Temperatures across Australia was above average in 2018, says the Bureau of Meteorology. Senior climatologist Dr Lynette Bettio said Australia’s average temperature in 2018 was 1.14 degrees above the average for 1961 to 1990, making it slightly warmer than 2017. She said it was the third warmest year for the country on record. “When we look across all of Australia in 2018, we can see that every single state and territory had above-average day and night-time temperatures,” she said. "The average maximum temperature for the country as a whole was particularly warm, sitting 1.55 degrees above the 1961 to 1990 average, making 2018 Australia's second warmest year on record for daily high temperatures. "Average minimum temperatures for 2018 were 0.73 degrees above average, the 11th-warmest on record.” Tasmania had another warm year, she said. It was the fifth warmest year on record for the state, with record high temperatures in January and the warmest December on record for the state as a whole. Dr Bettio said the warmest day of 2018 was at St Helens on January 19 with a high 39.7 degrees. Rainfall was close to the average for the state, however, it was the wettest March since 2001. There was also record-breaking rain on May 10 and 11, causing flash-flooding in the south. On Friday, a little rain was expected through the state, with one to three millimetres expected in the North-East and central North from the late morning. Temperatures on Saturday were expected to be in the low to mid-20s for most areas, however, the North-East will hit the high-20s to low-30s during the morning. Also on Saturday, a very high fire danger rating was forecast for the central North, North-East, and midlands. Statewide dry thunderstorms could be possible early Saturday morning. Warm to hot conditions were expected to continue from Sunday into early next week, with daylight temperatures expected to be about five to six degrees above average for January. Weather conditions were expected to be mostly fine and sunny statewide next week.

BOM: 2018 was Australia's third hottest year on record

Temperatures across Australia was above average in 2018, says the Bureau of Meteorology.

Senior climatologist Dr Lynette Bettio said Australia’s average temperature in 2018 was 1.14 degrees above the average for 1961 to 1990, making it slightly warmer than 2017.

She said it was the third warmest year for the country on record.

“When we look across all of Australia in 2018, we can see that every single state and territory had above-average day and night-time temperatures,” she said.

"The average maximum temperature for the country as a whole was particularly warm, sitting 1.55 degrees above the 1961 to 1990 average, making 2018 Australia's second warmest year on record for daily high temperatures.